Canucks call on Roberto Luongo, university netminder as backup for Flames game

Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun04.10.2013

University of Calgary Dinos goalie Dustin Butler (left) gets the thrill of hockey life Wednesday night when he serves as backup to Roberto Luongo for the Vancouver Canucks in their NHL game against the host Calgary Flames. Regular Canucks netminder Cory Schneider is sidelined with illness.Ted Rhodes
/ Postmedia News files

Roberto Luongo (above) gets the call in net Wednesday against the Calgary Flames in Calgary after Cory Schneider was ruled out of the game with illness.Jamie Sabau
/ NHLI via Getty Images files

'We're scoreboard-watching a little bit, but we are more focused on finding out what kind of team we have down the stretch and playing the game that we know we can,' says Vancouver Canucks winger Dale Weise (right, taking down Calgary Flames blueliner Cory Sarich during an NHL game at Calgary's Saddledome). Weise will replace the injured Chris Higgins on the third line with newly acquired Derek Roy and Jannik Hansen tonight in Calgary.Stuart Gradon
/ Postmedia News files

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CALGARY — The Vancouver Canucks begin a five-game road trip tonight that should go a long way toward determining whether they can clinch their fifth straight Northwest Division title.

And they will start the trip with Roberto Luongo in goal.

Luongo was named the surprise starter late this afternoon when Cory Schneider was deemed too ill to play.

With Schneider sick after starting the team's last 11 games, the Canucks have signed University of Calgary goaltender Dustin Butler to back up Luongo.

The Canucks (@vanCanucks) announced the call-up via Twitter and urged fans to not "push the panic button. Schneider has the flu."

Butler just finished his fifth year tending goal for the Calgary Dinos where he sported a 2.44 goals against average and .903 save percentage in 17 games this season. He sported a winning record of 9-7.

Prior to attending to the U of C, Butler spent five seasons in the Western Hockey League where he suited up for the Portland Winterhawks, Kamloops Blazers and Prince Albert Raiders.

The Canucks last employed a CIS goaltender in 2003 when Chris Levesque was summoned from the UBC Thunderbirds to back up Johan Hedberg after regular starter Dan Cloutier injured his groin.

In 2011, the San Jose Sharks signed UBC goalie Jordan White as an emergency backup at Rogers Arena.

Neither Levesque nor White saw any action.

Thanks to a favour from the Chicago Blackhawks of all people, the Canucks enter tonight's game against the Calgary Flames with a four-point lead over the Minnesota Wild. Chicago beat the Wild 1-0 in St. Paul on Tuesday night. Both the Wild and Canucks have nine games remaining.

"A couple of us went for dinner last night and were watching the game," winger Dale Weise said today. "I never thought I'd be cheering for the Chicago Blackhawks, but they pulled it off and good for them."

Four of the five games the Canucks play on this trip are against teams currently under the Western Conference playoff bar. They know a good road trip would go a long way toward wrapping up the division title.

"I think this will set us up down the stretch, for sure," Weise said. "We are worried about about finding our game right now. We're scoreboard-watching a little bit, but we are more focused on finding out what kind of team we have down the stretch and playing the game that we know we can."

The Flames, of course, have no chance of making the playoffs and with the trade of Jarome Iginla signalled that they are finally entering rebuild mode.

But Calgary has not rolled over. The Flames beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 in Denver on Monday night and this past Saturday night were much better than the score indicated in a 5-2 loss to the Canucks at Rogers Arena.

The Flames outshot the Canucks 38-22 in that game and Vancouver had to lean heavily on Schneider to get the win.

"I liked our start, I liked the way we played the full 60 minutes," Calgary coach Bob Hartley said of his team's effort that night. "The Canucks made us pay for a few mistakes, but at the same time we were ready to go, we competed hard and if it wouldn't have been for Schneider we could have left Vancouver with two points."

Weise said the Canucks learned a lesson Saturday night and promised the Flames will have their full attention tonight.

"I think we got a little complacent there," Weise said of Saturday night's game. "This is a team still battling. They have got guys fighting for contracts and spots next year. This is not a team we can afford to take lightly."

The Canucks will play tonight without a couple of key regulars. Winger Chris Higgins is out with a knee injury, while defenceman Chris Tanev has missed the past two games with an apparent foot or ankle injury. Both players are out indefinitely.

Weise will fill Higgins' spot on a line with Derek Roy and Jannik Hansen.

"This is a big opportunity for me," Weise said. "Obviously, it sucks to lose a guy like Higgins. He is playing so well and is such a big part of our team, penalty-kill wise and five-on-five. He creates a lot.

"But I am not going to do anything to change my game on that line. I'll get in there, be physical, get those guys the puck and get to the net and see what happens."

The Canucks had a highly optional morning skate at the Scotiabank Saddledome this morning. Tom Sestito, Andrew Alberts, Cam Barker, Steve Pinizzotto and Roberto Luongo were the only Canucks to skate.

• PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Flames: Mike Cammalleri is tied for the team lead with 27 points, but is also a club-worst minus 15 this season.

Canucks: Goalie Roberto Luongo hasn't started a game since March 18, when the Canucks dropped a 3-1 home-ice decision to the Minnesota Wild.

The Canucks are without wingers Chris Higgins (knee) and David Booth (ankle) and D Chris Tanev (foot).

ICE CHIPS: The Flames recalled Blair Jones from Abbotsford to fill in for the injured Matt Stajan … Miikka Kiprusoff will start in goal for Calgary … This is the fifth and final meeting of the season between the Canucks and Flames. Vancouver has won three of the four previous meetings … The Canucks will travel Thursday to Denver, where they will practise on Friday and meet the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday afternoon..

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Canucks call on Roberto Luongo, university netminder as backup for Flames game

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